Monday, September 29, 2008

New Book "Does Modesty Exist Today?"


Chapter One

Why is
Modesty a
Struggle?


“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of your flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for theses are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things you please. But if you are led by the spirit you are not under the law.”
Galatians 5: 16
- Hey, to begin with, writing a book on modesty was the last thing on my mind. This whole book was totally Naomi’s idea and I simply agreed to go along with it because she wanted my help I’m kind of like the writer of the family. As I began, I really wondered if this was such a good project for me to do. After all, who am I to write about modesty? I struggle with it, I want to be in fashion, I want the attention when I wear an awesome outfit and, like many Christian girls I know, the problem isn’t I want to attract a boy; I just want to be ‘in’.
So how could I dare to teach others on such a thing, something on which I still have so much to learn?
I was amazed after I started on the first chapter how much I really did know from my own personal experiences and on what my parents and others have taught me. I continued to search and dig I became so overwhelmed by the definitions and verses and how in the end so much ties together. So even if I’m not completely there yet, God is at work and I hope this book will be not a lot of do’s and don’ts, but what we and others have learned.

- Hello, dear sisters, I am Naomi. I am just like you, nothing special about me except for Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I indeed am nothing but Christ is my everything. In myself I am weak, but in Christ, and Christ alone, I become strong. I struggle with the same battles that you do. In my flesh, I buck at the very idea of modesty. I can come up with excuse after excuse after excuse to not dress modestly, but the Holy Spirit silences me every time.
As my sister said earlier that this book was my idea, and true I did say to her, hey Lydia, I have this idea to write a book on modesty, but quite truthfully, it is not my idea. The whole idea of modesty did not come from me, but rather, it came from the clear commands in the Bible. This book is not something that I decided to write for popularity, in fact I expect the opposite, but rather this book is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and everything that we write is based on what Jesus Christ has said to us in the Scriptures.
There may be things in this book that make you angry or upset, there may be things in this book that make you defensive and proud. I am not apologizing for these things, on the contrary, I am pleading with my precious sisters in Christ, that you read this book with a heart open to the Holy Spirit working in your life. Lay your flesh and any pre-suppositions and biased attitudes on the teaching of modesty and let your mind be opened to what God would have you learn.
As Paul prayed for the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:18, I pray for you:
…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
May the Lord open the eyes of you heart so that you might see and know the riches of His glory.

Tell us what you think of our idea to write a book on modesty.
Lydia and Naomi

4 comments:

Kalani said...

Wonderful!!!
Keep Going! I'll be praying for you both!
I once did an interview with some girls and "dress" was one of the top struggles!
May the Lord bless and guide your book!

hannah elizabeth said...

I am so excited about yall writing this book! I too struggle with dressing in a modest way and look forward to the encouragement and insight i know yalls book will provide! You will both be in my prayers!
much love in Him,
hannah

Allison said...

I think it's a superb idea! This is a tricky topic that many seem blind to. Go for it! May God bless your work...

Vanessa said...

Lydia, thanks for your comment! I just love your blog! Anyways, just to let you know, I tagged you. So go ahead and check out my blog and all the further details! You'll know what to do!


Your sister in Christ, Vanessa